---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Blacks have no rights - in fact they were…"
description: "\"Blacks have no rights - in fact they were three - fifths human according to the constitution to give slave owners more voting rights. So that's African..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/noam-chomsky-42_african-american_blacks-have-no-rights-in-fact-they-were_1906729.jpg"
---

#  Blacks have no rights - in fact they were three - fifths…

![“Blacks have no rights - in fact they were three - fifths human according to the constitution to give slave owners more voting rights. So that's African Americans.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/noam-chomsky-42_african-american_blacks-have-no-rights-in-fact-they-were_1906729.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/noam-chomsky-42_african-american_blacks-have-no-rights-in-fact-they-were_1906729.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/noam-chomsky-42_african-american_blacks-have-no-rights-in-fact-they-were_1906729.jpg)

> “Blacks have no rights - in fact they were three - fifths human according to the constitution to give slave owners more voting rights. So that's African Americans.”

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Historically, African Americans were deemed less than human to justify disenfranchisement.

**In simple terms:** Racism justified denying rights to African Americans.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and challenge systemic racism.

Themes

history racism rights

Mood

urgent reflective

Type

activist educational

When to use this quote

- education reform
- policy advocacy
- public discourse

Key Concepts

human rights racial hierarchy

Questions to Reflect On

- How does language shape racial perception?
- What steps can dismantle systemic oppression?

A Different Perspective

Some deny historical racism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [African americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) [Blacks Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blacks-rights-1603178/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Owners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owners/) [Right to vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-vote/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights African](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-african-2846060/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slave owners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave-owners/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting/) [Voting rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting-rights/)

## Related quotes

> [I think what happened during the Great Depression was that African Americans understood that Republicans championed citizenship and voting rights but they became impatient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-what-happened-during-the-great-depression-was-that-african/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [During the Great Depression African Americans understood that Republicans championed citizenship and voting rights, but they became impatient for economic emancipation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/during-the-great-depression-african-americans-understood-that/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [How did the party that elected the first black U.S. senator, the party that elected the first 20 African American congressmen, become a party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/how-did-the-party-that-elected-the-first-black-u-s-senator-the-party/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [ They \[the blacks\] had no rights which the white man was bound to respect. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-brooke-taney/they-the-blacks-had-no-rights-which-the-white-man-was-bound-to-respect/)

[Roger Brooke Taney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-brooke-taney/)

> [We must adopt reforms which will expand the range of opportunities for all Americans. We can fulfill the American dream only when each person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/we-must-adopt-reforms-which-will-expand-the-range-of-opportunities/)

[Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/)

> [The first thing that has to happen is the protection of voting rights and registration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-first-thing-that-has-to-happen-is-the-protection-of-voting-rights/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [When it comes to voting rights, Democrats push voter protection while Republicans shout voter fraud in a crowded polling place. Democrats think anyone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/when-it-comes-to-voting-rights-democrats-push-voter-protection-while/)

[Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/)

> [ I would like the Supreme Court to understand that voting rights are still a big problem in many parts of our country \[America\], that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-would-like-the-supreme-court-to-understand-that-voting-rights-are/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [President Lyndon Johnson's high spirits were marked as he circulated among the many guests whom he had invited to witness an event he confidently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/president-lyndon-johnson-s-high-spirits-were-marked-as-he-circulated/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [I deeply understand the history of civil rights and the horrendous impact that relentless and systemic discrimination and the denial of voting rights has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/i-deeply-understand-the-history-of-civil-rights-and-the-horrendous/)

[Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/)

> [U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz accused Republicans of trying to make it a crime to be an illegal alien. Democrats see a conspiracy plot. First…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/argus-hamilton/u-s-rep-debbie-wasserman-schultz-accused-republicans-of-trying-to/)

[Argus Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/argus-hamilton/)

> [Michelle Alexander's brave and bold new book paints a haunting picture in which dreary felon garb, post-prison joblessness, and loss of voting rights now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lani-guinier/michelle-alexander-s-brave-and-bold-new-book-paints-a-haunting/)

[Lani Guinier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lani-guinier/)

> [No one questions the validity, the urgency, the essentiality of the Voting Rights Act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/no-one-questions-the-validity-the-urgency-the-essentiality-of-the/)

[Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/)

> [Racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/racial-discrimination-in-elections-in-texas-is-no-mere-historical/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [I spent many years working for voting rights, but we still see sophisticated efforts, led by white officials, to disenfranchise black voters in local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-brooke/i-spent-many-years-working-for-voting-rights-but-we-still-see/)

[Edward Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-brooke/)

## More by Noam Chomsky

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

[Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

## More African american quotes

> [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/)

[Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/)

> [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/)

[Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/)

> [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/)

[Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/)

> [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/)

[Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/)

> [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/)

[Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/)

> [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/)

[Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/)

> [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/)

[Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/)

> [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/)

[Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/)

> [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/)

[Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/)

> [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/)

[Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/)

> [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/)

[Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/)

[Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Blacks have no rights - in fact they were three - fifths human according to the constitution to give slave owners more voting rights. So that's African Americans.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Noam Chomsky"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/blacks-have-no-rights-in-fact-they-were-three-fifths-human-according/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "African american"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/blacks-have-no-rights-in-fact-they-were-three-fifths-human-according/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/noam-chomsky-42_african-american_blacks-have-no-rights-in-fact-they-were_1906729.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/noam-chomsky-42_african-american_blacks-have-no-rights-in-fact-they-were_1906729.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/noam-chomsky-42_african-american_blacks-have-no-rights-in-fact-they-were_1906729.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Blacks have no rights - in fact they were three - fifths human according to the constitution to give slave…” — Noam Chomsky",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Noam Chomsky",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Blacks have no rights - in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/blacks-have-no-rights-in-fact-they-were-three-fifths-human-according/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/blacks-have-no-rights-in-fact-they-were-three-fifths-human-according/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```